CHAPTER 518: CHAPTER 362: SOMETHING FISHY

About two tons of steel were stolen from Warehouse No. 4. No one can clearly say how or when the theft happened.

Such a baffling case naturally fell into the hands of the Severe Punishment Task Force.

Old Shen was busy visiting and interviewing dock workers when Jiang Xiaojun’s call came through the walkie-talkie.

"Director Jiang, what’s the matter?"

"Someone saw Zhang Asheng at Binjiang, he is likely staying at the Sailor Club."

"Which Zhang Asheng?"

"The one who came from East Sea in 1988 to engage in illegal foreign exchange activities, Political Commissioner Jiang asked us to quickly check on this, Salted Fish also called me just now."

Previously, when there weren’t as many police as there are now, everyone had a part in major cases.

The old comrades were almost all involved in investigating the foreign exchange case.

Han Ning’s transfer from the Sailor Club to the department back then is well understood by the old comrades from the Severe Punishment Task Force.

Old Shen, realizing what’s happening, asked in astonishment: "He has been released after serving his sentence. What is he doing here? Could it be that he harbors ill intentions and wants to take revenge on Han Ning and Salted Fish?"

"Do you think I would be asking you if I knew?"

Jiang Xiaojun retorted and instructed: "He recognizes me and has a strong impression of me, my showing up could easily alert him. You were involved in the later stages of the investigation back then; it’s unlikely he remembers you. Go quickly, bring Old Wu and others to check it out."

"Understood, leave it to me."

Concerned about the safety of two police officers from the sub-bureau, who are both his juniors, Old Shen didn’t dare delay. He called Old Wu, who was with him visiting, and hurriedly cycled to the Sailor Club.

The Sailor Club is still run under the Port Authority, but it has been leased out to a private individual for operation.

The once classy lobby now looked somewhat dated. Back in the day, countertops selling quality domestic and imported goods to foreign guests were gone, and coupled with fewer customers than before, it appeared somewhat empty and cold.

Most of the former managers and waitstaff had been reassigned or had resigned due to low wages and gone private. The current manager, chefs, and waitstaff were all recruited by the private owner from the public.

Since the sub-bureau often came to check on outsiders and fire safety, although Old Shen and Old Wu were not in uniform, the receptionist recognized them instantly.

"Director Shen, are you here for an inspection again today?"

"This girl, are you somewhat unwelcome to us?"

"Not at all." The young lady giggled and came out from behind the reception to greet them.

Private contracting isn’t the same as the former communal system, the service attitude has improved countless times.

Previously, the managers, waitstaff, and counter-salespeople acted high and mighty, looking down on everyone, even treating police with indifference.

Unfortunately, after a murder case occurred, perhaps the decor no longer keeping up with the times, the place’s business plummeted. No matter how good the service is, it’s hard to see the bustling, packed scene of the past.

Old Shen glanced back at the stairs and asked with a smile, "Xiao Tao, how many guests have stayed here in the past few days?"

"Not many."

"How few is ’not many’?"

"Only about seven or eight, I’ve registered them all."

"Show me the registration book."

"Alright."

Not knowing what to expect from the registration book, he was stunned to see it.

Zhang Asheng and his wife had indeed come, and had been here for three days.

Old Shen handed the register to Old Wu and asked quietly, "Are these two East Sea guests in their room?"

With so few guests and even fewer from East Sea, the receptionist Xiao Tao remembered Zhang Asheng and his wife vividly and replied without hesitation, "They went out, just drove out."

"They went out by car? They have a car?"

"Yes, they came by car."

"What kind of car?"

"A sedan, I don’t know what brand, but it’s very fancy."

Xiao Tao thought for a moment, her big watery eyes twinkling as she smiled, "I remember now, it looks exactly like the one from the Ship Agency, but newer than theirs."

Old Shen asked in a low voice, "A Toyota sedan?"

"Yes, a Toyota. When not going out, it’s always parked in the back courtyard. Master Wang and Xiao Qin from the kitchen often go there to look at it when they have nothing to do."

"They just left, right?"

"Yes."

Xiao Tao glanced back at the clock on the wall and confirmed, "They got up late, came downstairs after the restaurant had cleared away breakfast. They went out to eat breakfast and drove away after returning, they’ve been gone for less than an hour."

When Zhang Asheng and his wife were caught, they suffered heavy losses. Although one spent only a short time in prison and the other received a suspended sentence without jail time, it wouldn’t be easy to turn their fortunes around so quickly, as money isn’t easy to come by.

Yet they dared to revisit the old place, and even arrived at Binjiang in an imported sedan.

The more Old Shen thought, the more he felt that something was off about the couple, and he pressed, "Do you know where they went?"

"I don’t know."

"Did they ever ask you for directions?"

"No, Director Shen, they have been to Binjiang before and are more familiar with the place than I am. Many of the places I don’t know, but they do!"

"How do you know that?"

"They mentioned it yesterday during breakfast, saying that there hasn’t been much change in Binjiang in recent years."

The girl is from the countryside and came to the city to work, so it’s normal that she isn’t as familiar with Binjiang as the couple Zhang Asheng. After all, Zhang Asheng and his spouse had visited Binjiang more than once before they were caught.

Old Shen and Old Wu exchanged glances, then continued to ask, "Did they inquire about anyone to you?"

Xiao Tao put away the registration form and smiled, "Yes, they asked not only me but also our manager."

"Who were they asking about?"

"They said they had a friend who used to work here, and they haven’t been in contact for several years, and now they can’t get through. The friend is a woman, I think her surname is Han, but I can’t remember the name."

"They had a friend surnamed Han who used to work here?"

"They said that the friend used to be a housekeeping service staff, and our manager doesn’t recognize her either, and neither do I."

It is exactly what they feared; the Zhang couple indeed came looking for Han Ning!

Director Shen realized the gravity of the situation, instructed the girl to keep it confidential, and had Old Wu stay and keep watch at the Sailor Club, then immediately rode his bicycle hurriedly to the office.

After hearing the report, Political Commissioner Jiang, looking at Director He and Jiang Xiaojun who had just returned, said with trepidation: "Fortunately, a staff member recognized him and incidentally saw him, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable."

Director He had heard from Political Commissioner Jiang half an hour ago about the process of investigating the foreign exchange arbitrage case, and he finally understood why these old comrades liked Salted Fish so much, and finally understood how Han Ning became a policeman years ago.

Ex-convicts attempting revenge against the police district officers is no minor matter!

Director He asked in a low voice: "Old Jiang, you’re most familiar with the situation, what do you think."

Jiang Xiaojun extinguished his cigarette butt, "This matter is rather peculiar."

"How so?"

"I don’t think they are likely here for retaliation."

"Unlikely?"

"They drove here, staying openly at the Sailor Club, blatantly inquiring about Han Ning, which means they did not consider hiding their tracks at all. But they are people with criminal records, having a certain awareness against investigation; aren’t they worried we might track them down in the future?"

Jiang Xiaojun racked his brains and then continued, "If they aren’t here to seek revenge against Han Ning and even Salted Fish, then why would they inquire about Han Ning? So it doesn’t make sense."

Recalling the past modus operandi of Zhang Asheng’s gang, Old Shen reminded, "Director Jiang, don’t forget how they collected Foreign Exchange Certificates back then."

"Are you saying they might be doing the same thing as before, playing a double game with us?"

"Ye Xingguo hasn’t shown up yet."

Political Commissioner Jiang felt that Comrade Old Shen’s analysis made sense, knocking on the table and saying: "Compared to them two, Ye Xingguo is the crafty and cunning one. They might have a division of work, the couple openly inquiring to provide information for Ye Xingguo lurking in the shadows to carry out the retaliation."

Old Shen added, "Even if we trace them in the future, they could claim they weren’t present and provide alibis."

Indeed, that was a possibility, but Jiang Xiaojun still thought it unlikely, yet he could not explain why.

While everyone was discussing how to respond next, Han Yu pretended as if he knew nothing and went to toast his brother-in-law with a soft drink.

"San’er, your dad passed by Binjiang Port yesterday; it was a short trip this time, carrying over a hundred tons of compound fertilizer, he said he’ll have your mom disembark at Gaoru."

"New Year’s is still a long way off, how can he run the ship alone if mom disembarks?"

"He has found someone, Captain Wang helped him find someone."

As soon as Zhang Jiangkun finished speaking, Han Ning turned to look at Han Xiangning, enviously saying, "Ningning, mom really treats you well. When I had Dongdong, she was running ships, and when your sister-in-law had Xunxun, she didn’t come back either. Now for you, she’s actually coming back early, and after disembarking, she’s not planning to sail again."

Babies can’t be left without care.

Dad and mom have to work, and grandma decided to disembark to help take care of the baby.

These things Han Xiangning knew already, feeling very delighted, she quickly said, "Sister, different times call for different measures. When you had Dongdong and sister-in-law had Xunxun, our family was struggling; they needed to earn money to pay off debts and really couldn’t take care of you and sister-in-law."

Sister had contributed so much to the family, yet mom hadn’t treated her as well as herself.

Feeling guilty, Han Yu was about to say something when his phone suddenly rang.

He took it out and glanced at the caller ID; it was from the office. Han Yu apologetically smiled, stood up, and walked out of the living room to answer.

"Director Yu, it’s Chen Zikun. Two East Sea people came by car and insist on seeing you."

"Two East Sea people?"

"They seem to be a middle-aged couple, both in their forties; the man’s surname is Zhang, named Zhang Asheng. The woman’s surname is Shen, named Shen Rulan. They’re dressed very stylishly, drove a Fengtai, have a mobile phone, and seem very wealthy."

How is this possible!

Han Yu couldn’t believe his ears, stunned for a while before asking urgently, "Where are they now?"

"In the reception room, asking when you’ll be back."

"They want to see me?"

"Director Yu, weren’t they the friends you made while studying in East Sea?"

"What friends? They have criminal records, I’ve dealt with them in the past."

"Ah..."

"Don’t ’ah’. First, keep them steady, I’ll report to the office leadership and then head back."